Wrench having angularly adjustable auxiliary handles



June 1, 1965 A J. WENTURINE ETAL 3,186,255

WRENCH HAVING ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE AUXILIARY HANDLES Filed March 29. 1961 SI INVENTORS F M0 UDOLPH Q F 3 BY ANT'HIOVNI; fwE/vruRmE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,186,265 WRENCH HAVING ANGULARLY ADJUSTAELE AUXILIARY HANDLES Anthony J. Wenturine, 9659 Highland Drive, Brooksville 41, Ohio, and Simon R. Rudolph, Akron, Ohio; Juliet P. Rudolph, 552 S. Hawkins Ave, Akron, Ohio, executrix of said Simon Rudolph, deceased Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 9%250 2 Claims. (Cl. 81-177.9)

This invention relates to the art of ratchet type socket wrenches and in particular has reference to socket wrenches of this type that have greater accessibility properties, as well as improved torque applying characteristics.

In the art of socket wrenches, it has been long known that ratchet mechanisms can be employed to provide a unidirectional turning force to a nut or bolt over which the socket is positioned. It has further been long known that wrenches of this type can be provided with a shallow depth for accessibility purposes and further that the same can be double-ended construction so as to provide different sockets at both ends of the elongate handle portion that makes up the wrench.

It has even further been known in the prior art that the socket portion per se of the wrench can be pivoted with respect to the handle portion so as to permit offsetting of a limited degree.

It has been discovered, however, that wrenches having the above characteristics in the prior art have been possessed of certain inherent disadvantages. First, and considering socket wrenches of the type having pivoted socket heads connected to one end thereof, it has been found that, in fact, the use of the same will be impaired by virtue of the fact that the turning power applied by the handle portion thereof will be ineffective due to the fact that the same is, in reality, applied in such a fashion as to tend to disengage the socket from the nut upon which the same is received. This oftentimes results in the socket slipping oil of the nut being turned, with damage to the users hands.

Additionally, only a percentage of the turning torque applied is actually transmitted to rotate the nut because of the fact that the torque is being applied by hand in one plane, while being transmitted to the nut through another plane.

As a second further disadvantage of the existing prior art structure, it has been, for all practical purposes, impossible to measure the actual turning torque applied by socket wrenches of the type conventionally employed in the prior art. This is again true because of the fact that there is no known accurate way to measure the turning torque applied in a plane that is normal to the axis of turning rotation of the member being tightened. In several instances, it is desirable not to apply more than a certain degree of torque and, accordingly, at the present time there is no known Way of applying such torque when the plane of force application is offset with respect to the plane of socket application.

It has'been discovered that greater efficiency can be obtained by making these auxiliary handles pivotable through a limited or controlled arc of pivotal movement and by further including releasable stop means that serve to selectively position any one handle member in any one of several positions of pivotable movement. In this fashion the auxiliary handles, even though being offset with 3,136,2h5 Patented June 1, 1965 opening for a torque measuring device, with the result that when the auxiliary handles are in parallel an accurate and 7 true reading of the actual torque applied can be obtained, even though these planes are offset.

In addition to the aforementioned advantage, it has been found that use of a pair of auxiliary handles pivoted to the opposed ends of the main handle in opposed relationship with each other permits the user of the socket wrench to apply a greater turning force, notwithstanding the fact that the plane of torque application may be offset with respect to the plane of socket application.

Additionally, it has been found that the use of the pivotable auxiliary handles permits reversal of socket application, with the result that a simpler and more efiicient unidirectional ratchet control can be employed without detracting from the overall useabililty (if the socket wrench.

respect to each other, can be either (1 maintained in Production of an improved socket wrench having the above characteristics accordingly becomes the principal object of this invention, with other objects becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification, considered and interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the improved socket wrench.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal view taken on the lines 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the improved wrench and illustrating in chain dotted lines certain various positions of movement of the component parts.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, the improved socket wrench, generally designated by the numeral 10, is shown including a main elongate handle 11, that has pivoted to the opposed ends thereof auxiliary handle members 12 and 13; the arrangement being such that the auxiliary handle 12 serves as a socket for the tool 10, while the auxiliary handle 13 serves as a turning handle.

Considering first the structure of the elongate handle 11, it will be seen from the drawings that the same is of generally elongate cylindrical configuration, with the opposed ends 11a and 11b thereof being appropriately contoured for pivotable connection with the auxiliary handles 12 and 13.

To this end, and referring first to FIGURES 1 and 3, it will be seen that the end 11a, for example, is provided with a mounting shank 26 that has a transverse bore 21 that extends between the parallel fiat walls 22 and 23 thereof.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the projecting end of the shank portion 29 is rounded and is further provided with accurately spaced depressions 24, 25 and 26, with these depressions being disposed between the walls 22 and 23 and being arranged at a radial distance from the axis of the bore 21. It is to be understood that the construction of the remaining end portion 11b is preferably identical to that just described in connection with the member lid, with the result that either end 11a or 11b can be selectively pivoted to either of the auxiliary handles 12 or 13. 7

Considering next the detailed structure of the auxiliary handle 12, it will be first noted that the same includes a main body portion 31) that includes opposed faces 31 and 32 that, in basic essence, define the opposed faces between which the socket opening extends. In this regard and referring to FIGURE 1, the face 31 is offset to include an offset support face 31a, with this face 31a serving to seat a cover plate 34, as will be described.

Accordingly, the face 31a further includes threaded apertures 35, 35 within which the bolts 36, 36 may be received for retaining the cover plate 34 in overlying relationship to the face surface 31a. In addition to the aforementioned component parts, a cylindrical bore 37 also opens into the face 31, and this bore 37 is further counterbored, as at 37a, to permit seating therein of a ratchet gear 38, with the gear 38 being cylindrical and including peripheral teeth 38a that will engage the ratchet means to be described. For the purpose of seating gear 38, the counter-bore 37a coacts with the bore 37 to define a shoulder 37b upon which the teeth portion 38a of the ratchet gear may be received.

Additionally, and as best shown in FIGURE 3, the internal wall 38b of the ratchet gear 38 further includes a plurality of serrations 39, 39, with each serration 39 including faces 39a, 39b, and with these faces extending transversely of the hub portion of the ratchet gear so as to be receivable over a hexagonal shaped bolt head, for example.

While the ratchet gear 38 is freely rotatable relative- 1y of the body portion 30 by virtue of the construction just described, ratchet means 40 are provided for the purpose of limiting this rotation to a unidirectional path of rotational movement.

Accordingly, and referring to FIGURES l and 3, the face 31a is further shown provided with a diagonally presented slot 41 within which is received a pawl member 42, with the pawl member 42 being slidable relatively of the slot 41 and further being urged towards projection therefrom by the spring member 43. For the purpose of controlling movement of the rotational movement of the ratchet gear 38, the end 42a of the pawl member 42 is provided with an offset end portion 45, with this offset end portion 45 being adapted to be received over the faces of one tooth 38a as clearly shown in FIGURE 3.

In this fashion the extreme end wall 42]) will be engaged against face 38d, while the wall portion 45 will be disposed in adjacency with an adjacent face 38c (see FIGURE 3). In this fashion rotation of the ratchet gear 38 in the direction of arrow 46 will be permitted since the surface 38d that engages the end wall 421) will, in fact, cam the entire pawl member 42 rearwardly towards the chain dotted line position upon shifting in the direction of the arrow 46. Rotation in the opposite direction, however, will be prevented by virtue of the fact that the shoulder 420 will serve as a stop for the surface 380 that will be engaged thereagainst.

In addition to the aforementioned component parts, the body portion 30 also includes a yoke-like end portion that includes parallel support flanges 50 and 51, with these yoke flanges 50 and 51 being spaced an appropriate distance apart so as to facilitate reception therebetween of the shank end of handle end 11a. The opposed yoke flanges 50 and 51 are appropriately bored for reception of a bolt or rivet 53, with this bolt 53 passing through the opening 21 of handle 11 so as to effectuate a pivotal mounting of handles 12 and 13 on handle 11.

Controlled positioning of this just described pivotal movement is achieved by the use of a ball detent 56 that is received in a bore 57 provided in the face 58 of the body member 30, with this ball detent 56 being spring loaded to projecting position by spring 59. In this fashion the ball detent 56 will engage with one of the depressions 24, and 26 so as to provide a positioning point of pivoted relationship between the handles 11 and 12.

With regard to the detailed construction of the cover plate 34, it should be noted that the same has an outline planar configuration that corresponds substantially to that of the surface 31a, and the Covering plate 34 accordingly includes a large diameter aperture 34a, as well as a pair of small apertures 34b, 34b; the arrangement being such that the apertures 34b, 34b will align with the apertures 35, to thus facilitate clamping of the cover plate 34 in overlying relationship to the face surface 31a upon insertion of the bolts 36, 36. In this regard, the aperture 34a is of sufiicient diameter to encircle the hub portion of the ratchet gear 38, while overlying the gear teeth 38a thereof so as to releasably retain the same in rotatably journaled position in the opening 37.

Turning next to the detailed construction of the handle 13, it will again be noted that the same is preferably of elongated flat condition so as to include a yoke end 64) that is provided with spaced leg portions 61 and 62, with bolt or rivet 63 passing through appropriate apertures in the legs 61 and 62 so as to pivotally support the end 1112 with respect to the handle 13. As previously indicated, the mounting handle end 11b is preferably interchangeable as regards mounting to the end 11a, and it should accordingly be noted that there will be three transverse arcuately extending depressions corresponding identically to the previously described notches 24, 25 and 26 of end 11a. Again a ball detent (not shown) will be tensionally urged outwardly from the base of the surface interconnecting the ends 61 and 62 so as to selectively engage one such depression in end 11b in the same identical fashion as was etfectuated by the ball detent 56. An opening 64 is additionally provided between the opposed faces of the handle 13 for insertion of a torque measuring tool if desired.

In addition to the aforementioned component parts, the handle ends 11a and 11!) are further contoured in the preferred form of the invention so as to provide a limitation for the extent of pivotal movement that may occur around either of the bolts 53 or 63.

To this end the opposed fiat faces 22 and 23 are shown terminating in transverse shoulders 22a and 23a, with these transverse shoulders serving to engage the arcuate end 300 of the handle 12, for example, and thus limit the extent of rotational movement that can occur. This position is best shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings where the shoulder 22a is shown (by dotted line) as being engaged by the extreme arcuate end of the surface 30c. Similar rotation limiting faces are provided on the end 11b for limiting rotational movement around bolt 63.

In use or operation of the improved socket wrench, it will first be assumed that the component parts have been assembled as indicated in the drawings and, at this time, it is merely necessary that the nut engaging surfaces 39a, 39b of the ratchet gear 38 be applied over the head of a nut or bolt that is to be tightened or loosened as the case may be.

After such application of the socket over the nut or bolt and assuming that it is impossible to apply turning torque through the plane of socket application, the handle 11 may be offset 45 degrees by merely turning the same around the point of pivotal axis that is defined by the bolt 53. In FIGURE 1 an adjustment of 45 degrees has been made, with the detent 56 being shown engaging the depression 26. At this time the auxiliary handle 13 may be moved into parallel as shown in FIG- URE 1 by merely causing the detent thereof to engage the notch that is disposed in parallel to the notch 26, with this condition of component parts being illustrated perspectively in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

When this condition of component parts has been achieved, force applied to the turning handle 13 in the direction of arrow will cause a turning force to be applied to the auxiliary handle 11 in the plane of the arrow 81. It should be noted that these planes of movement indicated by the arrows 80 and 81 are parallel to each other and are both normal to the axis of rotation of the ratchet gear 38.

If it is desired to reverse the direction of rotational movement of the ratchet socket, it is merely necessary that the same be removed from the tool and reversed 180 degrees. At this time the handle 11 could be pivoted degrees with respect to both auxiliary handles 12 and 13 so that the parts would again assume the position of FIGURE 1, although force application would be in the direction of the arrow 82 with the socket turning in the direction of the arrow 83. Again, however, the planes of movement of the arrows 82 and 83 are parallel.

This condition of pivotal movement is fully and clearly indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings wherein the positions of movement of the auxiliary handles 12 and 13 are shown. Thus, and referring to FIGURE 4, when the handles 12 and 13 are in the dotted line position they will be parallel and the same situation will exist when these members are pivoted 90 degrees to the chain dotted line position shown in FIGURE 4.

It will be noted that this condition of limited and controlled pivotal movement of approximately 90 degrees also facilitates positioning of the auxiliary handles 12 and 13 at right angles to each other, with this condition existing when the handle 12 is in the dotted line position and the handle 13 is in the chain dotted line position, for example.

While a full and complete description of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the Patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein for illustration purposes.

Accordingly, modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A torque applying wrench of the character described comprising;

(A) a main elongate handle;

(B) first and second auxiliary handles (1) pivotally secured to opposed ends of said main handle about parallel axes of support (a) whereby said first and second auxiliary handles may be disposed in parallel planes;

(C) socket means (1) carried by one said auxiliary handle and (2) being rotatable about an axis normal to the plane of said handle on which it is carried and to the planes of the axes of pivotal support of both said auxiliary handles (a) whereby force applied to said remaining handle along its plane will be transmitted to said wrench normal to its axis when said auxiliary handles are disposed in parallel planes;

(D) said main handle having a series of equally spaced depressions on its opposed ends disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of said main handle in an arc of substantially degrees with said depressions being disposed in corresponding positions on each end; and

(E) detent means (1) carried by said auxiliary handles adjacent their point of pivotal connection with said main handle for coaction with said depressions on said main handle (a) whereby said auxiliary handles may be releasably contained in predetermined corresponding angular positions with regard to the longitudinal axis of said main handle.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the presence of stop means (A) disposed on the opposed ends of said main handle and (B) engageable with said auxiliary handles upon pivotal movement of said auxiliary handles through an arc of substantially 90 degrees (1) whereby pivotal movement of said handles is limited to an arc of pivotal movement of substantially 90 degrees.

References tilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 964,067 7/ 1O Steen. 1,090,506 3/ 14 Sprague. 1,191,855 7/16 Tuszka. 1,431,389 10/22 Frisz 81--177.9 X 1,719,310 7/29 Rawlings 8'1 177.9 2,028,561 1/36 Pilger 8l-177.9 2,708,855 5/55 Fish. 2,978,938 4/61 Nalley 81177.8

FOREIGN PATENTS 583,335 3/25 France.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TORQUE APPLYING WRENCH OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING: (A) A MAIN ELONGATE HANDLE; (B) A FIRST AND SECOND AUXILIARY HANDLES (1) PIVOTALLY SECURED TO OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID MAIN HANDLE ABOUT PARALLEL AXES OF SUPPORT (A) WHEREBY SAID FIRST AND SECOND AUXILIARY HANDLES MAY BE DISPOSED IN PARALLEL PLANES; (C) SOCKET MEANS (1) CARRIED BY ONE SAID AUXILIARY HANDLE AND (2) BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID HANDLE ON WHICH IT IS CARRIED AND TO THE PLANES OF THE AXES OF PIVOTAL SUPPORT OF BOTH SAID AUXILIARY HANDLES (A) WHEREBY FORCE APPLIED TO SAID REMAINING HANDLE ALONG ITS PLANE WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO SAID WRENCH NORMAL TO ITS AXIS WHEN SAIDAUXILIARY HANDLES ARE DISPOSED IN PARALLEL PLANES; (D) SAID MAIN HANDLE HAVING A SERIES EQUALLY SPACED DEPRESSIONS ON ITS OPPOSED ENDS DISPOSED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID MAIN HANDLE IN AN ARC OF SUBSTANTIALLY 90 DEGREES WITH SAID DEPRESSIONS BEING DISPOSED IN CORRESPONDING POSITIONS ON EACH END; AND (E) DETENT MEANS (1) CARRIED BY SAID AUXILIARY HANDLES ADJACENT THEIR POINT OF PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH SAID MAIN HANDLE FOR COACTION WITH SAID DEPRESSIONS ON SAID MAIN HANDLE (A) WHEREBY SAID AUXILIARY HANDLES MAY BE RELEASABLY CONTAINED IN PREDETERMINED CORRESPONDING ANGULAR POSITIONS WITH REGARD TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID MAIN HANDLE. 